The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a service provider on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield intercity rail line, now branded as the CTrail Hartford Line. The RFP is open only to those service providers approved and “short-listed” after a Request for Qualifications issued by CTDOT in 2014.

“The Hartford Line service provider will be responsible for hiring personnel, operating trains, maintaining stations, parking facilities, and overseeing station advertising,” said CTDOT Commissioner James P. Redeker. “Meanwhile, as the line owner, Amtrak will remain responsible for right of way maintenance, signaling and train dispatching.”

Under the RFP, responding companies will be required to provide a price proposal for providing the service, as well as a more in-depth description of their qualifications, and a technical proposal detailing how they will staff, operate and maintain Hartford Line passenger rail service for the CTDOT. Final selection of a service provider is scheduled to occur in late 2016.

The CTrail Hartford Line service will provide more frequent, convenient and faster passenger rail service between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield by increasing the number of round trip trains from six daily Amtrak intercitytrains to a total of 17 round trip trains a day to Hartford, and 12 trains per day to Springfield. The expanded service and new stations are expected to increase ridership, improve travel times, expand intermodal transportation options, encourage economic development and create more livable and sustainable communities.